New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-17

President Cleveland will learn in time that his
| professions Of reform do not help him.
when accompanied by unblushing efforts to make
the Civil Service partisan machine.
SAFE CAR HEATING And LIGHTING.
Now that general attention is directed to the
problem Of safe heating and lighting on railroad
cars, facts arc coming to light which daily and
hourly render the s.oth OF the corporations in
dealing with this question less partlonable.
When a succession OF shocking disasters reused
the public, it was given out that tho railroad
companies were fairly bursting with anxiety to
find hotter means OF heating the cars, and that
nothing but the poverty Of ideas among Amer
lean inventors had thus far hindcred them Ii;
is certainly difficult 10 reconcile this representa-
ton with tho fact that something like three
hundred safe modes of heating are on file in the
Patent Office; that several have actually been
tested and their excellence proved, and that one
or two really public spirited companies have
adopted such methods and have been using them
for years. This. however, is the actual state Of
the case, and it justifics but ono conclusion,
namely, that tho consideration of increased cX-
pensc, and not the difficulty of finding effective
heating systems, has prevented the introduction
of any such method upon the great trunk lines
AT thc last meeting Of the NcwEngand Rail
road Club. held in Boston on the 9th instant
the whole question was discussed carefully and
several methods Of heating were examined and
described. The weight OF opinion was evidently
in favor Of steam heating, and none of the en-
lcricnccd railroad men present seems TO have
thought Of starting the objection now so IA
mliar TO the public through It's frequent state
mcnt, about the supposi ttlous Gripping Of the
engine by taking steam from H. In truth thai
objection would never be used by railroad mon
unless with "lntcnt 10 deceive" for they arr
perfectly well aware that it has no foundation
IN fact. The engine docs not feel the loss of the
steam used to heat even train Of sixteen or
seventeen cars. The heating can he done with
the waste steam. Tho objection, in short does
not exist effectively When, too. the other
bugbcars arc examined their insignifcancc
promptly appears Thus it has been shown by
experts that no real difficulty need bc cxpcr-
fenced in keeping cars warm: that heating
systems now in use will keep them comfortable
during four or five hours at a time after they
nave been detached from the engine and this
IS n good deal more than the most cxigcnt
sdpci1ntcndcnts have declared necessary There
is, however. present danger TO the public. and
that is that in the multiplicity Of inventions
and the disputes Of rival claimants the corpora-
nchs may find new excuse for DELAY and mac
lion. That should be guarded against by direct,
ing public (and corporate) opinion steadily
toward the system which promises the best
results.
Experts are clearly in a majority for steam.
and that is significant. Hot air and hot wafer
both call for extra furnaces, which, no matter
how guarded, must constitute an additional
peril in travelling by rail- The supply Of steam,
from the engine is the most natural direct
easy and safe method, and also. which ia i'm
portant, tho least expensive. Special cars ,o
contain apparatus for heating and lighting ar,
easier talked about than built and opcra,cd
Inc locomotive service plan has the advantage
oil demanding very little new machinery. What
the public reed Is prompt protection on the rail
and this involves the elimination OF the stovc
and the kerosene lamp. Steam can he applicd
as has been proved thoroughly; and pcndinc
he introduction OF electricity on the cars some
simple and safe illuminant. such a. stcarine
candles. sure to he cx.inguishcd by AN n.cido,,
can he employed But this is not all tbc no
form required. Tho Westinghouse brake 10 ,
scrviccablc contrivancc but not always mick
enough in stopping n train. It's autom,,ism
too. is only partial. 1t works If train hrc,ks
in two, but not necessarily In a case Of dcr,;I-
mcnt. Now an inventor has met this dcic;cncy
by neat and simple addition TO the Wcst;r,'
house brake which insITcs automatic action in
the event of wheel breaking. thus civinc .,
guarantee Tor The stoppagc of the train at what
Is IN nine cases out OF ten the most important
moment. Many fatal accidents wouH Lo |
avoided if trans could he stopped the momcn,
a brcakage occurs. The new invention n,oo,'
Just that critical requirement. With ncrfcc,od
brakes and safe heating and LIGHTING ,o;,roa1
travel will be infinitely les dangerous. Thcsc
improvements tho corporations must introduce
and if they arc well advised they will NOT yo;t
for legislative mandates